Bhopal: At least four wild elephants were found dead and five others unconscious in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh.
According to officials, this incident happened in the Khitauli forest range of Umariya district. “What exactly caused the death of elephants is being ascertained,” they said. During a patrol, BTR staff discovered two dead elephants in a specific area, followed by two more in another nearby location.
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After the initial discoveries, teams searched the area and found five additional elephants lying on the ground, not well. "This herd was reported with 13 individuals out of which four died (1 male 3 female) and five are unwell and four others were found healthy," a wildlife official said.
He also stated that they are thoroughly examining the area to explore all possibilities of what happened. "Medical team of wildlife health officers and wildlife veterinarians from Bandhavgarh, Sanjay and School of Wildlife Forensic and Health Jabalpur are treating the wild elephants in the best possible ways. STSF Jabalpur and Bhopal are also reaching for further investigation," the official added.
Park managers and veterinarians are consulting with experts from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun for guidance. Their main priority is to treat the sick elephants and help them recover. “The actual cause of death will be ascertained after post-mortem and thorough investigation and combing of the area,” he added.
A wildlife activist noted that this is the first time four elephants have been killed while others are in such critical condition. "It's a serious issue which needs to be investigated thoroughly and the responsible officials should be punished," he added.
Agency
Published: 30 Oct 2024, 07:45 am IST
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